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For the past one month ( when I started blogging) I have been discovering a new me and an old me. While I search through the internet to find some ideas about topics that I should write about, I find so many things that I knew and did but had forgotten that I knew them once upon a time. Take for example, craft. I have done paper mache, clay, skeleton leaves, stitching, weaving ( a case of jack of all trades?). It was always amateurish and I never thought of getting serious with any of the hobbies. But now when I write abut skeleton writing, I miss the experience and the joy that I used to get. It’s not so with my job. May be I should have delved before taking it.But how many of us get a job of our choice and Liking.

She sells seashells at the seashore seashell sale. Repeat three times in 5 seconds. Didn’t we all tried our hands on this and similar lovely tongue twisters as kids! While writing on my fav subject I was tempted to use this TT again after ages. It feels good to recollect happy memories of the past.Anyways, I was saying that we as humans have found interesting ways of using almost everything for something other than its natural purpose and sea shells are no exception. There is a whole bunch of nice items that can be carved out of seashells, like lamps, mirrors, wall hangings and many more.On my trip to Goa the thing I most enjoyed (besides sunbathing) was collecting sea shells. My husband took to this hobby and added to my already burgeoning bag more than I did. Returning home I searched for ideas to make use of these shells. Two I implemented immediately. I had a beautiful crystal vase which was a wedding gift. The vase was lying useless because I didn't find time to look for flowers suitable to put in it. Instead now I arranged different types of big and small shells in it and it really made a beautiful decorative piece.Second, I draw a picture of peacock and pasted small shells on it and then colored them. Later I used this idea when I started working with kindergarten kids, I would draw small pictures and put glue on outline and kids will put shells and press them. Then they will show off to other older students.Later in my free time I improvised and made use of things lying around in the house. Here are a few ideas of how to use seashells without many hassles.- Buy cheap pillar candles, I liked the white. Use the tip of your hot glue gun to melt a spot on the candle and press a shell into the wax. You just have to hold it until the wax starts to set. If you do the bottom half of the candle this way and then tie a piece of raffia ribbon around the centre it makes for a nice accent piece in a bathroom or anywhere.-You can glue them around a flower pot to make it decorative.-Drill some holes and string them and make a wind chime (add some driftwood pieces to this if you have them,)-Glue onto a soap dispenser for an ocean theme bathroom-Hang your large shell on the wall using wire plate hangers-Make a seashell magnet. Make sure your sea shells are clean and dry. You can paint them or leave them natural. Glue the sea shell to a small magnet! Let dry and stick to your fridge, lockers, or other metal surface!-For making wind chime, use string to make dowels into an 'X' shape. Glue shells onto several different lengths of string. Let dry about a day. Tie string with shells to dowel rods at all four corners and some between. Hang somewhere you, your friends, and neighbors can all see it and enjoy it. It will also give you a chance to tell everyone about your adventures in collecting your treasures.- Toothpicks: Make your ordinary toothpicks look fancy and graceful by adorning them with shells. Small shells will come in handy here. Just glue the inside of a small shell and put the rear of the toothpick there and press it till it is safely joined.- Bookmarks: Take a muslin rope or you can make one using craft threads and braiding them. Drill a hole in a small and fancy shell and pull the thread through the shell. You can add some colourful beads too.Below are two links which I think can be useful to seashell fans.

we all know that giving and receiving a special present can be incredibly powerful and emotional. As you give time, energy, thought and love in choosing a gift, you are showing your personality and your generosity as a human being.Forget the novelty socks and bath salts and let’s see if we can find some new and funky gift ideas after raking our brains together.

So here is my list, you are free to add yours.

1. Make up a crossword puzzle and have all the hints be personal inside moments and jokes that only you two would know about. Put it on a poster board and add some clipart and some pictures to it! The crossword puzzle could be time consuming and a bit frustrating, you could do the same idea with a WORD SEARCH or WORD FIND puzzle. Put your computer skills to work! Use Excel, get clip art from Yahoo Images Search, copy them, and reformat them, use a glue stick to put on poster board.Use graph paper, and pictures from magazines if you are not as good on the computer, and it will give it a homemade feeling.

2. Hot air balloon flights: Truly and honestly there must be few experiences as serene and satisfying as a balloon ride. The experience starts with the inflation of the balloon and after a brief chat with your pilot, off you float, controlled only by the wind. Amazing views, peace and quiet and a sense of total wonder will all be yours. Then finish off the experience, a traditional glass of champers.

3. Make a newspaper: Unless someone is a royalty, their birthday or wedding probably didn't make it into the newspapers - however it can be pretty interesting finding out what was going on in the world on that special day. You can dive in to newspapers’ archives and fish out this information. Personalize this by recording the recipient’s name, the occasion being commemorated, as well as a short personal message.

Some gifts are thoughtless, rude and even offensive. Never, ever give an appliance to your wife or girlfriend as a gift. Unless you are certain that cooking is her passion - stay clear from appliances. Never give someone "A charitable donation made in his or her name" as a gift. Unless they have specifically requested that you give money to charity instead of buying a gift. Don’t give overweight friend fitness equipment or diet books. You might think you are doing them a favor but they may be offended. Think about what your gifts are saying before you buy them.

I like both of them very much, they are extremely talented. A film in which both of them work is like watching a duel of titans.I guess they are almost on the same level...but going with the movie choices over the years i wud have to say Robert Deniro. in the last 15 years Pacino has fallen into this horrible habit of over-acting and just shouting throughout his films.

the major role for Pacino was Michael Corleone in "The Godfather" and De Niro's Vito Corleone in "Godfather II." Michael is a "kind hearted guy" who transforms in to "evil mob boss". De Niro's performance in "Godfather II" was incredible - he actually made you believe that he was the young Marlon Brando. But it was a supporting part.and not to mention that coppola auditioned both of them for michael's part. n that went to pacino.for Pacino his major performance has to be 'Godfather II' and 'Raging Bull' for De Niro. De Niro learned how to box, he gained 60 pounds.

De Niro'performance prime has lasted much longer, from 1974 ("Godfather II") through 1980 with a resurgence in the late-'80s and then another resurgence in the late-'90s when he started doing comedies ("Analyze This," "Meet the Parents"). Just a more interesting, consistent, complete body of work, capped off by his improbable comedy success over these last few years.where as Pacino's prime lasted from 1972 ("The Godfather") through 1983 ("Serpico," "Godfather II," "Dog Day Afternoon," "And Justice For All," "Cruising," "Scarface").lets just say that if you were trapped on a desert island and could import all of De Niro's movies or all of Pacino's movies, you'd probably pick De Niro (unless you couldn't live without "Scarface" and "Godfather I"). Just more to choose from.

de niro's range is rangeless.he is- Funny De Niro, Deadpan De Niro, Scary Mobster De Niro, Quiet Cop De Niro, Intense De Niro, Crazy Cop De Niro, Just Plain Crazy De Niro, Athletic De Niro, Killer De Niro, Quirky De Niro, Kindhearted DeNiro and so on. Pacino could only offer Quiet Cop Pacino, Abrasive Cop Pacino, Brooding Pacino, Crazy Pacino. There was never really Funny Pacino, unless we're talking in the Unintentional Comedy sense.Pacino and DeNiro shared one major scene together, the diner scene in "Heat".I'm giving De Niro a slight edge.It was dead-even right until the end. Pacino did his "Brotha, you are going down" routine. De Niro did his "There's a flip side to that coin ... what if I have to take you down?" routine. And it was a dead heat. Both of them hit it out of the park. Except right at the end, Pacino broke into a slight smile, almost like he couldn't handle the moment - either it was too intense, or he couldn't believe the scene just happened. Either way, it's always bothered me. His character never would have smiled in that scene at that particular moment. It didn't add up. And it was just enough to give De Niro the win.

I am with longbottom right now and he is taking us through Hogwarts, I am realizing that it looks familiar.No the plot is not copied,its as original as it could be.but I am reminded of THE YOUNG GUARD, a Russian novel, I read long back when I was a kid. more about it later, i have to meet others at Hogwarts.

So I was right in thinking that harry potter must have vanquished all party players with a swish of his wand.Hubby dear gave a really sweet surprise today at 4 am when he woke me up and put THE 7th Book in my hands.He knows how fixated I am to Harry Potter.But strangely I haven't opened the book yet.may I fear that once I start, I won't be able to stop and everybody in the house will be screaming over my head.Or is it that I have finally grown up? you know grown ups don't read children's books.Or is it the case of yearning for something and discarding it when you finally get it? May be I don't want to find out that harry really dies in the end. Being an ostrich is not a good example to set before my children so I have to get down to read it but I can enjoy my monopoly in party arena ( at least till hubby comes out of loo and claims his place in front of laptop).And congratulations to (now) Mr. and Mrs.Gordon who had decided to head straight to a Harry Potter store after their wedding last night. Hope they got their perfect wedding gift while standing together hand in hand,dressed in white gown and black suit.

lets wait and keep a watch on more potter fans to erupt in more potter frenzy.

My husband is a proud father now days. Whenever he gets the opportunity, he showcases his 18 months old daughter's "reading prowess". Though he conveniently forgets to point out that the behind the scenes director is someone else (i.e. yours truly).My husband's joy is understandable because it is quite obvious that the book culture is on the decline. Many of today's kids would rather watch TV or play video games than read a book. Being a bookworm, or even showing an interest in reading, is perceived as a "nerdish" activity. Most of the heroes in today's society are professional athletes, actors, or music icons. Parents need to resurrect this habit as it adds multiple dimensions to a child's growth.

Bedtime reading is considered the best quality time spent with a kid. Psychiatrists feel that bedtime reading helps to build strong bonding with the child.

Make reading fun! Something that is enjoyable is favoured. Act out stories from children's books, use different voices, and most importantly use enthusiasm. Presentation can be everything. A boring reader makes for a boring story no matter how exciting the story may really be. You might just find that you are having more fun as well.

Turn off the television and provide quiet time. Turning off the television forces our children to "find something else to do"

Forcing a child to read will yield no positive results. Most children should not be required to read each day, especially if it's forced reading for pleasure. Some families find that having a reading time when the whole family reads works. Even if the child is reluctant, he knows that the time is reserved for reading. Let him choose to read light material, if nothing else.

Use your child's favourite nursery rhymes. Maybe your child really likes "The Itsy Bitsy Spider." Find the book and read it. Personalized Baby Books can help develop a strong bond between a child and book reading.

Don't forget book browsing on the World Wide Web.

Display good books somewhere in your home. Let children know that books have an important place in the home. And don't limit the books to a few essentials...have a generous selection of a wide variety of books.

Have your child put his name in his books. Ownership is important! Some parents even recommend bookplates or custom bookplates.

Read yourself. Modeling to your children is one of the best ways of teaching children to read. If your children see that you read, you choose to read, and you enjoy reading, they are more likely to develop the same habit and pursue the same activity.

As your child grows and matures, introduce him or her to books for recreational reading that match their interests and hobbies. Show them how an informative book can deepen and expand their knowledge on a particular topic-and expand their horizons as well.

Make sure your child or grandchild has a library card. Libraries are wonderful resources for reading motivation and learning. Show your children how libraries can be places of wonder and excitement, and can open up new worlds of learning that will last a lifetime. The habit of reading can be a lifetime gift for your child.

So I am having a bad e-mail day.It seems that every body has forgotten that there lives a wonderful soul in this universe named ananya.Or may be google and yahoo have collapsed under the weight of their million bucks they got by creating stupid things like e-mails. By the way who can tell who made the first ever e-mail? Is it the microsoft giant Gates?well whoever it was,didn't do any good to humanity.they say YOU get addicted to net.I am addicted to e-mails.I have to open my account every 5 minutes (literally) and while it is loading,I pray to god to let me see some numbers in the inbox bracket.So what If half of the e-mails is totally junk and I delete them with one click,without even reading!The sight of the inbox swelled with incoming e-mails is enough to give you a high.Am I the only one here experiencing email withdrawl symptoms?

OK, first of all I am not a baldy with a fixation with furer, so hailing is for something which is totally opposite to little hittly’s Nazism. The phenomenon I am talking about is called Gandhigiri and it has forced the US govt. to reverse a decision related to issuance of green cards.

For the uninitiated,Gandhigiri is a term coined in the Bollywood movie “Lage Raho Munna Bhai”. In the movie the hero (a thug and local goon) takes to non violence to impress her fiancee. The comedy movie underlines the importance and relevance of “principles” of Mahatma Gandhi( termed gandhigiri in the movie). The formula of opposing injustice through nonviolent means is slowly regaining popularity in India.

Another victory for the followers of gandhigiri came on tuesday,when US govt. reversed its decision to limit green cards to highly skilled workers. The disappointed Indian techies resorted to the noble protest and sent thousands of flowers to to US Citizenship and Immigration Services’ office ( As done in the movie by hero Sanjay Dutt) .

Interestingly the term gandhigiri is fashioned upon another term with an opposite meaning : Dadagiri ( which is a slang for loompanism).

I found an interesting link on gandhigiri.

ps:I wanted the link to this site’s forum section but it didn’t work so I had to upload the original site, which ironically has Home sex video as its latest post!!!!! Gandhi practised celibacy in later part of his life.

Goa has a special place in my memories. It is the place where I met my husband and also because this was my first expedition alone. I had heard that the new year eve is celebrated with much fun and frolic in Goa.As I had been selected as a lecturer in a college and had been saving money for something special, I decided why not take a trip to Goa.I found that people in North India are much intruding and misbehaving towards a lone female traveler. Though I didn't face such problem in Goa.

Goan history: Often known as 'The Rome of the East', Goa was ruled by a great number of Indian kingdoms and dynasties from the 4th century onwards.The name 'Goa' is derived from the Konkani (The Goan Language) word 'Goan', which means a patch of tall grass. Myth logically, Goa's origin is ascribed to Parshurama, a God of the Hindu pantheon.Goa became a Portuguese colony in 1510 following the urges of trade and demand of spices, cotton and indigo. Portuguese renovated Goa by erecting one of the great churches like the church of St. Cajetan and Bom Jesus basilica in Old Goa, which is a pilgrimage site for the Christians all over the world.

Goan culture When you travel to Goa, " The jewel of India" you discover that they enjoy life to the fullest without getting tense about the unfavorable repercussions. 'Siesta' is an important part of life in Goa. I noticed shuttered down shops in afternoon, my host told me that the time from1pm to4 pm provides an afternoon nap to the Goans.Legendary Lata Mangueshkar is from Goa just like the classical singer Kishori Amonkar and the pop singer Remo Fernandes.There is a vast representation of the gods and goddesses of the Hindu pantheon, which testifies to the catholicity of the people's beliefs as well as their mutual tolerance. Indeed, Goa is could be loved just for this rare quality which one feels imperceptibly on even a short visit.

Goa beaches: Calangute is my favourite beach. It is the most famous and most crowded. if u love music,dance,chitter-chatter of countless people around you then calangute is the place for you. The main road which leads straight to the beach is full of Kashmiri-run handicraft boutiques and Tibetan stalls selling Himalayan curios and jewellery. The high quality textiles from Rajasthan, Gujarat and Karnataka can be bought from here.Anjuna Beach: Anjuna is known for its infamous full moon parties and for its flea market.Baga beach:Baga is actually an extension of Calangute beach but it is secluded enough to gain popularity among the topless sunbathers, though it is not among the famous 'nude' beaches. It is difficult to arrange for the transport in the late evenings in the area as there are no buses to the place after the dark and it takes a long walk to the Calangute taxi stand from the beach.Palolem Beach - is also known as "Paradise Beach". This beach is south Goa is about a mile long and it provides seclusion and idyllic scenery. If you’re looking for a most unhurried and balmy beach experience, complete with the most breathtaking coastal scene, this is the beach for you. Mandrem or Morjim: This is a place for those seeking peace and solitude. The beach stretches across three hamlets: Mandrem, Ashwem and Morjim. Divided by little creeks, these are spectacular windswept stretches of sand, devoid of crowds of people. Though Goa is known for its beaches, the over two dozen temples in the town are worth a visit too.

Where to stay:If you are going for Christmas and new year then you must book well in advance as this is the peak tourist season. Not only all big and small hotels are booked out, you won’t find rooms to stay in family run lodges also. My husband's uncle and aunt were with us on our second trip and we had decided to go there on a spur of the moment. We reached there with all our baggage and confidently knocked at the door of our erstwhile host( we stayed with him previous year) but he had no room! He tried to accommodate us with his relative's but again the reply was "no vaccancy".After an exhaustive search a widow gave us her son's study (she had seen two couples wandering back and forth in the street and worried about the "ladies").The room was very humid and practically a rat hole (our benefactor charged a whopping amount for 2 nights stay). My advice is that if you are going there only for New Year eve then don’t worry about booking. Just enjoy the sun and sand and the whole festive atmosphere of Goa with a feni in your hand. We saw many people who were comfortably sleeping on beaches the morning after New Year eve. But this suggestion is only for those who are travelling alone or with friends. If you have family with you then booking the hotel must be your top priority. Or you can make a deal in local lodges which are equally good. .Hire a bike and go on long drives to explore the Goan beaches and scenery.. From Kinetic Honda Scooter to Enfield. You have a number of machines to choose from.

The Carnival: Tour of Goa is incomplete if you miss out being a part of the Christmas Carnival. It does not matter whether one enjoys or see others enjoying. There is enthusiasm and happiness all around. . Floats depicting popular lullabies and nursery rhymes make a whimsical and colorful sight on the streets. The three-day festival primarily celebrated by Christians, has absorbed Hindu tradition-bound revelry and western dance forms, and stimulated by the artistry of the Goan genius turned into a pageantry of singular effervescence.

Restaurants:Tito's on calangute: TITO'S Restaurant is a favourite with locals and foreigners alike.. Stars like Richard Gere, Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Aishwarya Rai (to name a few) have all dined here.Pagoda (CALANGUTE)Excellent genuine Chinese restaurant run by a Chinese expat. Situated on the junction of the Baga & C.S.M. RoadJ&A's Little Italy (BAGA)One in the list of most popular restaurants in Goa, this Italian restaurant comes highly recommended and is situated on the charming Baga river promenade.

Shopping:Shopping in the famous traditional markets of the Mapusa and Anjuna area is a fascinating experience. These markets are a mirror of Goa's ethnic culture and provide a glimpse of the typical Goan way of doing business. The Friday Market at Mapusa, where stalls sell everything from curios and old coins to dried fish and spices. The Wednesday Market at Anjuna Beach started by and for foreigners is an extremely lively spot where souvenirs, beachwear, trinkets and handicrafts are sold at bargain prices. Be sure to sharpen your bargaining skills before you go, the vendors, who’re surprisingly fluent in English, are quite sharp-witted. There are many tattoo shops also. Al’s tattoo studio in goa is the best on baga road opp ronel hotel.

SouvenirsFeni Feni is the native liquor of Goa famous all over the world and almost synonymous with the region.Goans still believe that any ceremony require the joie de vivre sans, the company of alcohol as they are prefect celebratory of goenchi feni. The birth of a child is cheered with feni, a death is mourned with feni apart from fiesta, football and fish as are the 'famous fours', which go into making any goan happenings.GoaIndia Travel

So Taj has been voted the top most of the new 7 wonders.i bet the site must have made a few million bucks out of this hoopla.But somehow I feel connected.I have been to visit Tajmahal twice.I liked the scenery and the white ambiance surrounding the tomb.Now when I hear that It has become The Chosen One, I feel proud as if I own Taj!Yea you are also right if you think that I am going to bang the gong and tell whoever will care to listen that I have really seen Tajmahal.Taj is called the epitome of love.It is the evidence of the eternal love of emperor Shahjahan for his wife Mumtajmahal.But one thing I can't understand is that if Shahjahan so deeply loved his wife then why he had hundreds of other wives in his Harem?Isn't it more near the fact that Shahjahan, like any other emperor, wanted to prove his greatness in front of the whole world. Mumtaz was only a medium to serve his purpose.what say you?60+ Attractions - 1 TicketTajmahal

Technorati ProfileIts been ages when i was last here.It was a busy week.what with tour de france,wimbolden,guests coming and going and of course catching up with family.I am still recovering from the hang over of finding my place crowded with people and now totally lonely.

Such a relieving news at last! Alan Johnston,the BBC reporter has been released.He was captured by Palestinian extremist group called the Army of Islam and kept in captivity for over 100 days.His captives have confirmed that they were not interested in freedom of Palestine but wanted to wage a holy war against Britain.The rise of AL-QAIDA has seriously affected Palestinian cause.More and more Palestinian youth are turning to it. Now HAMAS will also take this opportunity to forward their "benevolent " face to the world.By posing for photos with Johanston,the HAMAS leaders wanted to convey that their has nothing to do with the al-Qaeda inspired kidnappers and can impose law and order.But is it really the case?http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6270020.stm

Priyanka Chopra is all set to play a new rloe.She will be the Grand Marshal to lead this year's India Day Parade in New York,on August 19th.The theme of this year’s parade is Women’s Shakti (power). Let’s hope Chopra has the power to cope: last year the sultry Bipasha Basu refused to participate in a similar parade in the Big Apple, alleging harassment by two of the organisers volunteers.Though Priyanka could use some tips and tricks which she must have learned during filming of super flop DON.Which reminds me,how many real action heroins are there in bollywood? Back in old days we had Nadia who starred in WADIA MOVIETON's films.Esha deol with all her sporty physique and brawny genealogy could have been the one but she has virtually disappeared after DHOOM-1. (thiugh there is a talk that Director Anubhav Sinha’s movie Cash has Esha doing many action sequences).Mallika is supposed to have done some stunts in THE MYTH but given the tiny length of her role in the movie,she doesn't qualify as action heroin.Even otherwise also,she is better suited for smooching than kicking asses.Shilpa Shetty delivered some good punches in DUS,which is a good action movie.Other than these names nothing comes to my mind.Guess Bollywood heroines are destined to play swooning hapless girls for another century to come.Indian ActressesPriyanka Chopra

This is a very easy to make craft. When I was a kid i used to make such vases.Hollowed-out eggshells make naturally beautiful vases for tiny flower arrangements. Save that egg shell from breakfast and make a sweet little posy vase for tiny flowers. This looks lovely on the breakfast table, on a breakfast tray or in any corner that needs a little splash of bright color. supplies: You will need an egg, some fabric colors, beads/mirror pieces( small)/eyelets/brads, craft wire, and some glue, plasticine clay, candies or jellybeans (mm sounds deliciously interesting!), tissue paper in color of your choice. We will take this exercise in steps: 1. To make them, carefully break open egg near the top (it will be the mouth o the vase) so that a small hole appears. Empty the content of egg in a bowl. Lay it aside. You will need it to make French omelet after you finish with your project. 2. Roll the plasticine clay and glue it around the bottom of your vase. This will give stability to the vase and it won't wobble. Alternatively you can put a small screw in the egg if you don't want to "disfigure" the egg or place it in an eggcup for stability. 3. Now you have to decide how you want to decorate the vase. You can paint some motifs, designs or draw a simple smiling face; it's all up to you. But if you want to put in more labor then you can use beads, mirrors/ eyelets or brads. You may like to use them singly or all of them collectively, it's again up to your imagination. 4. Another way of decorating the eggshell vase is to decoupage it with colored tissue paper. It is a process of gluing pieces of paper, pictures and other thin materials to an object. Through the use of many layers of the glue medium, the finished product appears as though the work has been painted on, instead of simply glued on. 5. Our vase is ready! Now we need something to put in the vase. Fill it with jellybeans or other small candies or use it to display small floral arrangement. 6. If you want to add flowers, then craft paper can be cut into different flower shapes and wire be pierced in it, which will be the stem. 7. Flowers can be made of beads also. 8. Better still, Cut a few short stemmed flowers and arrange in the eggshell. There is nothing more wonderful than lovely smelling fresh flowers. 9. Put your vase on your T.V. or a bookshelf and enjoy your work while taking a bite of French omelet.